September 2016

COVER
STORY
STREET ART
清 迈 街 头 艺 术
CHIANG MAI
Chiang Mai is full
of interesting outdoor urban art.
Step outdoors and discover the public street art.
@ Mae Jo
Street Art @ Mae Jo, IG : Erwin_supaklit @ Central Kad Suan Kaew
Chiang Mai is known for its charming northern Thai
architecture from the Lanna Kingdom, beautiful temples and
peaceful green hills. Now, the streets of The Rose of The
North are also thrumming with character, becoming a living
street art space and offering a new site-seeing activity.
Walking along the many alleys and backstreets of Chiang
Mai one will feel like they are walking the aisles of an art
museum in Berlin or Hong Kong where collections of stunning
murals are exhibited. Most artworks can be found on walls and
construction sites in the old city and in the Nimmanhaemin
area (see our Street Art Map pages 12&13), but also at many
other corners of the city. It serves as means of expression for
artists who are deeply feel that they would like their voices
heard. Mae Jo city, some 10 kilometres from town, was last
year the proud host of the international acclaimed “Meeting
of Styles” Graffiti Festival that welcomed some of the world’s
top graffiti artists to showcase their art on a huge abandoned
building.
Today there is more awareness than ever about the
imaginative artists who bring walls, building and even entire
neighborhoods alive with their vibrant creations. In town,
large scale murals are almost as numerous, prominently
incorporated into the decoration of some hip new businesses,
while in other sections street art gives color to dark spots.
Street art is proof that some of the best pieces of art, at
least contemporary art, are not locked inside museums.
Instead, they are out in the open for everyone to enjoy.
Spending a day street art hunting is one of the newest and
funniest attractions in Chiang Mai. We invite you to walk the
streets, picture and discover unique street art and graffiti.
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